I'm a mum going to COP26 - AMA

[ParentsForFuture]

We're Charlotte and Rowan from Parents for Future UK, a growing group of parent climate campaigners. We're going to COP26 in Glasgow to demand ambitious action on the climate emergency and are planning what will be the biggest mobilization of parents ever on a single issue, with other parent groups. Mumsnet reached out to us to come on and answer your questions on COP26 and how parents can make their voice heard. Our work is led by parents and rooted in love (and fear). Charlotte (Mumsnetter) is from Bath and Rowan is from Oxford, and we each have two children, aged 3 and 7.

@DunderMifflinSalesRep

I had the misfortune of being on a packed train heading out of London to Glasgow today and it was full of COP attendees. From the conversations I heard, it very much seemed like a typical conference where like minded people get together, have some fun, listen to some talks, and eat lots of food. I'm sure it's a great event to be part of, and it certainly sounded like there was lots going on for the attendees, but I have to ask, do you really believe it will make any difference? Or is there a danger that it's simply another talking shop for the climate activist bubble?

That's what my thoughts on it, who is paying for all these attendees to travel and stay, why couldn't it be done over Skype/teams like the way so many have had to work and learn recently? And think about all the emissions from all the delegates and protestors travelling there!

Fair play Guys!!!!

And think about all the emissions from all the delegates and protestors travelling there!

The hypocrisy of those travelling by private jet is unbelievable. How can they expect to be taken seriously?

V eco friendly.....
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19686110.cop26-president-bidens-20-vehicle-long-motorcade-arrives-glasgow/

😂😂

What are your thoughts on making the energy transition a socially just one – many green behaviours, particularly those mandated by governments, are as expensive as they are necessary. Eg switching to hydrogen which is more expensive than fossil fuels, or the cost of installing a heat pump vs a gas boiler. How do we balance climate need against social inclusivity needs?

[quote GreenGretel]Thank you! Brilliant.

Two other mums who are taking an active role in COP26 are Green Party councillor Nicole Griffiths and World Basic Income expert Laura Bannister who will be speaking at a Climate Justice event 4.30-6.30pm at Strathclyde University, Tuesday Nov 2nd. More details here: www.walk2cop26.com/events-2[/quote]
Fantastic! There are so many amazing mums doing this work - I really like working with so many women on parent activism - we really do try to lift each other up rather than compete for space.

@Andante57

And think about all the emissions from all the delegates and protestors travelling there!

The hypocrisy of those travelling by private jet is unbelievable. How can they expect to be taken seriously?

and @ISpyCobraKai - of course the leaders of the world are hypocrites! That's why they have done nothing about this issue for decades and have indeed contributed to it. Don't you think we all know that? And why are you blaming these two mums for that? They are going there to try and show these hypocritical leaders just how much people care about this and pressure them to finally take action!

These guys like Biden and Modi have the power right now (sadly) - so until we elect politicians who actually care, we have no CHOICE but to target them and force their hand if we want change. You pointing out that they are hypocrites is obvious, pointless and shows you're missing the point that what Charlotte and Rowan are doing is to pressure these guys to finally do something.

Good luck Rowan and Charlotte! and thank you for the list of things I can do, I will do all of them just to stick it to the negative nancys on here. Is there still time to sign the letter you are handing in?

Have you read the CCC climate budget, the GHG Protocol Corporate and Value Chain Standards, and the free training that is available?

Are you aware of EPDs and the Carbon Disclosure Project?

Big business and government are doing more than many people are aware of, but they are absolutely useless at getting the message across. Equally the misinformation and ambivalence among many individuals is equally worrying. (See volcano comments up thread).

Woooah, I'm not remotely blaming two Mums!

Sounds like an interesting initiative. However one question that always seems to be missing from CO2 footprint surveys etc., and which I rarely see being addressed, is people having children and the size of families. What is Parents for Future UK's position on this, given the huge environmental impact of having a child.

I'm not asking this to be goady, but it's a genuine question and I'd be interested in your group's thoughts, given that you are concerned about the environment but have had children.

How much of a role should population reduction take in reducing our environmental impact and do you think enough is being done about it?

So why did you have children

Thanks for doing this and sorry for some of the comments you’ve had. I have not heard of your group before so I will check it out to get involved. It sounds a lot less intimidating than some of the other groups out there.

I’d be interested to hear your ideas on how to explain to children the climate crisis)? It’s terrifying as an adult to learn about the climate crisis, how do you avoid just inducing anxiety?

@ParentsForFuture

We're Charlotte and Rowan from Parents for Future UK, a growing group of parent climate campaigners. We're going to COP26 in Glasgow to demand ambitious action on the climate emergency and are planning what will be the biggest mobilization of parents ever on a single issue, with other parent groups. Mumsnet reached out to us to come on and answer your questions on COP26 and how parents can make their voice heard. Our work is led by parents and rooted in love (and fear). Charlotte (Mumsnetter) is from Bath and Rowan is from Oxford, and we each have two children, aged 3 and 7.

Hope you have a great time and it's an engaging event, that said how's the food so far ? I am interested in the event, I've already been tracking the planes and trying to figure out when potus, had landed,

This is the most middle class thread I think I've ever read on Mumsnet!

OP - You're speaking in riddles without saying exactly what it actually is that you want the government to do? We're a tiny, tiny little island 🤣 Nothing and I mean NOTHING we do here is going to make a jot of difference to the overall climate of the planet. North America, Australia, Europe etc, on the other hand.... They could really make a difference.

Of course it is all the rage at the moment to be all 'eco' though so you're right on trend!

Thank you so much for doing this! I work in a climate change related field and have learnt lots of people are sceptical for lots of different reasons. A lot of examples have come up on this thread - hypocrisy from world leaders, inaction from other countries, concerns about the effects of action against climate change on day to day lives (Eg who pays for it, what does it mean for jobs in carbon intensive industries).

I think these are valid concerns, but also think we ALL need to be on board if we are to win the fight against climate change. What do you think needs to be done to address this?

I also note all the questions that are thinly veiled accusations of hypocrisy… I tend to ignore those ones! There’s no pleasing some people…

@PumpkinsandTea

This is the most middle class thread I think I've ever read on Mumsnet!

OP - You're speaking in riddles without saying exactly what it actually is that you want the government to do? We're a tiny, tiny little island 🤣 Nothing and I mean NOTHING we do here is going to make a jot of difference to the overall climate of the planet. North America, Australia, Europe etc, on the other hand.... They could really make a difference.

Of course it is all the rage at the moment to be all 'eco' though so you're right on trend!

Yes, well, the problem with your attitude is that everyone can say the same thing:

"Oh, it's no good the USA doing everything if the Chinese won't"
"Oh, it's no good the Chinese doing everything if the Russians won't"
"Oh, it's no good the Russians doing everything if the Europeans won't"

All we can is what we can do - so we should do that. Not because it's fashionable, or middle-class, but because it's the right - and really the ONLY - thing to do.

@PumpkinsandTea

This is the most middle class thread I think I've ever read on Mumsnet!

OP - You're speaking in riddles without saying exactly what it actually is that you want the government to do? We're a tiny, tiny little island 🤣 Nothing and I mean NOTHING we do here is going to make a jot of difference to the overall climate of the planet. North America, Australia, Europe etc, on the other hand.... They could really make a difference.

Of course it is all the rage at the moment to be all 'eco' though so you're right on trend!

Science and research departments, e.g. Porter down , dstl ect, that's my guess.

@hotmeatymilk

What are your thoughts on making the energy transition a socially just one – many green behaviours, particularly those mandated by governments, are as expensive as they are necessary. Eg switching to hydrogen which is more expensive than fossil fuels, or the cost of installing a heat pump vs a gas boiler. How do we balance climate need against social inclusivity needs?

This is what I'm thinking.

As to my question, what are governments actively doing to stop our reliance on on fossil fuels and that includes the reliance on peat bogs?

Thank you for your actions and voices.

Pumpkinsandtea what, you don’t think climate change is going to affect working class people then? Good luck with that, my friend 🙄

Hi there thank you for attending.
Have a great time and I sincerely hope we can see changes being made across the globe.

@Justmuddlingalong

I'm not asking environmental activists to be perfect. I'm pointing out that everyone, environmental activists included, make choices as to what is acceptable to them and the effects on the planet.

Exactly. This is why I object to being lectured on climate change by the likes of royalty and other celebrities who travel by helicopter and private jet and holiday on yachts. The hypocrisy is ridiculous.

@Goawaymorningsickeness

This puzzles me when people say this, it's almost unless your perfect then you can preach for others to do x, I understand it helps if the person is also doing x, but at the same time the information is still correct so why do people have issues with it when the nature of some e.g. Potus, ect has to do, that they say we need to do x even if they don't do it themselves ?

Do you get frustrated when you learn of people's hypocrisy re: climate change (ie slebs - private jets to travel to protests / collect environment awards etc)
What would you say to them?